TORONTO - No matter the state of the hockey team in the Air Canada Centre, from now on there’ll be solid bench strength just outside.

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment has begun construction on its long-discussed touchstone team monument. As revealed in the Toronto Sun in January, the concept will be an evolving art piece of famous players from nearly 100 years of franchise history, in various poses on a team bench in Maple Leaf Square.

A source familiar with the project says the first three players have been chosen, with details to be released Thursday morning at the chosen site, near the ACC’s West entrance. The first phase will place three life-sized statues along the bench, adding at least three more per year to a maximum of 10 or 11, leading to the club’s 100th anniversary in 2017-18.